2010 Volume 58 Issue 3 Pages 381-385
I investigated the characteristics of the spawning habitat of the white-spotted charr Salvelinus leucomaenis pluvius in the Nishi River, an upper tributary of the Shinano river system in central Japan. The depth of the spawning site was 13.5-54.5 cm, and the water current velocity was 10 cm/s or less. The redds at this site were located either at the sides of pools or near boulders in the pools; furthermore, 50% of the redds were located under rock cover. Charr redds mainly appear as pebbles with a median diameter of 16≤X<64 mm. These characteristics are similar to those of white-spotted charr redds found in other regions in Japan. The charr may spawn in areas where the environmental conditions, including the substratum, water depth, current velocity, and rock cover, are suitable.
